Public Health Behavior Solutions

Public Health
Behavior Solutions

Multidisciplinary Cognitive-based Injury and Disease Prevention Research and Services

Public Health Behavior Solutions (PHBS) provides evidence-based research, and program development and evaluation to state and local agencies, hospitals, organizations, public health professionals, and individual-patients with multidisciplinary, cognitive-based, injury and disease prevention programs, and patient-direct services.

VISION
To be a global leader in the field of applied cognitive neuroscience and public health, utilizing cutting-edge evidence-based research and innovative behavior change approaches to improve public health education, and disease and injury prevention programs.

MISSION
Our mission is to apply the principles of cognitive neuroscience to develop evidence-based strategies and interventions that enhance health promotion, and disease and injury prevention programs. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, rigorous research, and the utilization of advanced technologies, we aim to empower individuals and communities to lead healthier lives. We strive to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical application, ensuring that our findings have a direct impact on public health policies and practices. We utilize a multidisciplinary approach incorporating sub-fields of neuroscience, such as cognitive neuroscience and social neuroscience; psychology; mental health; and public and environmental health education research, to improve health behavior change and public health prevention programs and policy. By promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being among individuals and community, we aspire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and contribute to the overall improvement of global health outcomes.

CORE VALUES

Health equity
Diversity
Integrity
Collaboration
Reliability
Accountability
Science and evidence-based decision making
Innovation
Prevention and wellness

OVERVIEW
Currently, our programs and services are designed to modify behavior that empower individuals, with a health equity and population-based approach, in order to reduce exposure and risk of disease and injury. We also collaborate with universities, to provide graduate students with an opportunity to participate in projects that will provide them with applied multidisciplinary research and publishing opportunities.

As part of PHBS, our research programs are implemented and administered by Pro Consumer Safety (PCS), a community benefit service of PHBS, that provides consumers with evidenced-based programs, education and awareness to promote safety and healthier lifestyles. Programs include public awareness, as well as implementation of evidenced-based safety programs for local, state and federal agencies that address Healthy People 2030 Objectives and Healthy Campus Objectives. PCS also provides professional support services in injury prevention to improve and sustain injury prevention programs with a multidisciplinary and multi-organizational approach. PCS also provides publishing services to provide health education materials.

via GIPHY

A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER/OWNER/DIRECTOR
The human brain, constantly learning and adapting to environmental stimuli it is exposed to, shaping our behavior, our ability to react or respond, make choices, interact with others, including non-verbal ques, and our ability to feel and learn. It affects every aspect of our lives. When we include brain and behavior, by applying cognitive and social neuroscience to prevention programs, we have a greater likelihood of improving the efficacy of public health injury and violence prevention programs, increasing self-awareness, promoting behavior change and improving healthy lifestyles. You have, "One brain. One life. Protect it."
Dr. J DeCarli, Founder & Owner, Public Health Behavior Solutions and Pro Consumer Safety

RESEARCH, PREVENTION PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES

PHBS specializes in a wide range of public health injury prevention efforts to promote safer and healthy lifestyles and communities, including:

Cognitive interviewing
Behavioral skills training (BST)
Psychometric assessment
Focus Group testing
Applied Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and other peripheral Psychophysiological Measures
Psychoneuroimmunology research
Ergonomic and workplace safety assessment and intervention
Equine-assisted therapy
Injury prevention research
Infectious disease epidemiology and prevention
Problem-based, hands-on, multidisciplinary approaches to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
Food safety - Preventing Listeriosis among women who are pregnant, etc.
Traffic safety research and program development (National Roadway Safety Strategy-NRSS)
Program implementation and evaluation
Application of cognitive research into policy development
Media advisories
Train-the-trainer programs
Community health education and safety
Car seat community benefit program (hospital/provider-based)
Other hospital/provider-based community benefit programs

WHERE NEUROSCIENCE MEETS PUBLIC HEALTH
While applying a public health approach, PHBS applies cognitive neuroscience research to improve prevention programs that promote behavior change to reduce the burden of injury and disease. We have studied and continue to apply neuroscience research methodology to learn about human behavior and choice as it pertains to risk. Examples include neuroscience models to reduce adolescent risk behavior, and inattention blindness fMRI risk study to validate the risk of baby car seat mirrors to the driver (University of Southern California, Dana and David Cognitive Neuroimaging Center-Graduate student research project). Our research also incorporates psychoneuroimmunology to improve the efficacy of programs for victims of abuse and neglect to reduce chronic disease.

We specialize in the prevention of intentional and unintentional related injury, including but not limited to, motor-vehicle occupant (car seat program - Cognitive-based behavioral skills training approach), bicycle/pedestrian, drowning, poisoning, suffocation, burns, falls, traumatic brain injury (TBI), ergonomic/musculoskeletal, intimate partner violence (IPV), youth violence, elder maltreatment, child abuse and neglect. We also specialize in infectious and chronic disease prevention. When applying cognitive neuroscience to improve public health interventions, we provide, partner, protect, promote and prevent.

COGNITIVE-BASED INTEGRATIVE (CBI) PROGRAMS
Our hallmark primary prevention effort is based on our Cognitive-Based Integrative (CBI) Programs, include six separate programs that have been validated with fMRI and related psychophysiological techniques. The CBI programs are primary focused at the primary and secondary levels of prevention. Our research continues to study how exposure to traumatic experiences from in utero, early childhood and teen years, affect psychopathology and cognitive functioning in adulthood. This is studied to learn how exposure to traumatic experiences affect the developing brain, in order to develop primary prevention programs. The CBI programs have been designed to help fill the gap in primary prevention that are often overshadowed by highly necessary secondary and tertiary prevention programs. One of our guiding principles of our CBI programs, incorporates health equity in each of its programs and practices. Our CBI programs promote healthy behaviors and choices to reduce risky behaviors in teens and children. It is designed for expectant parents and new parents, parents who have recently separated (to help the in the best interest of their child), and other parents with children and teens.

COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY DIVISION
The Community Health and Safety Division of Public Health Behavior Solutions, provides public health and safety programs, services, research, and assistance to communities, organizations and governmental agencies. Our goal is to engage and empower communities with sustainable and equitable, evidenced-based injury prevention research to establish programs that improve the health and safety of individuals and communities. Current community research:

Safety On and Around Horses, Equine-Assisted Therapy and Activity and Injury Prevention in Horse Communities
White Paper: A Critical Review on the Injury Risks of Dog Kennels in an Urban Horse Community
National Telehealth Car Seat Call Center and Service (Providing service 24/7, throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa). This includes applied Behavioral Skills Training and a cognitive-based educational approach to reduce misuse to contribute Toward Zero Deaths as part of the USDOT National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS). We collaborate with NHTSA, NSC, and other local partners to provide occupant protection services and strategic planning with strategic highway safety plans.
Child Safety on the Homefront. A childhood injury prevention program for military families who are expecting a baby, and for other military parents and caregivers.

Prevention and Vaccine Promotion Task Force: COVID-19 Prevention and Vaccine Hesitancy and Prevention Program. This also includes COVID-19 updates and resources.
- Psychological Reactance During COVID-19 Pandemic & Vaccine Mandates (DeCarli, J., 2022)
- Cognitive distortions fueled by fear, resulting in decisions based on false assumptions (DeCarli, J., 2022) 
Co-leadership, Occupant Protection-California Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) - Behavioral Skills Training (BST) applied to car seat education to reduce misuse; car seat program outcome evaluation program development; BST training protocol program development; and application of Cognitive-based Integrative (CBI) program to driver safety program to reduce adolescent-risk driving behavior.
Car Seat Community Benefit Program (hospital/provider-based) - NRSS
Community Benefit (programs for hospitals and providers)
Behavioral Skills Training (BST) Applied to Child Passenger Safety: Research, development, and program development (PHBS leads with Applied Behavior Analysis, Department of Psychology, University of Southern California) - NRSS
- DeCarli, J. M., Aclan, M. D., Lindgren, N. A., & Diaz, C. (2024). In-Person and Telehealth behavioral skills Training to reduce child restraint system misuse. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2024.2301936
  - Select to download article (DeCarli et al., 2024)
  - Select to download Policy Brief (February 15, 2024)
Healthy Pets Coalition (dog bites and animal-assisted therapy/activities) - Veterinary Public Health, Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health

CONTACT INFORMATION

COVID-19 Updates

Cognitive-based Integrative Programs (CBI)

Community Benefit Programs

Equine Empowerment Center (EEC), incorporating CBI Programs

Alumnus

(1) Neuroscience (Keck/Dornsife) (2) Price School of Public Administration. University of Southern California.

School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington DC

Psychiatric and Behavioral Epidemiology, Mansfield College, University of Oxford

Environmental Sciences, New College, University of Oxford

Awards & Honors

Eta Sigma Gamma, National Health Education Honorary, George Washington University. Washington DC

American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL), formerly American College of Physician Executives (ACPE)

Fellowships & Volunteer Internships

Children's National Alumni, George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC Preventing Listeriosis Among Pregnant Women.

University of Southern California Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies. Research: 1) Naval hazardous waste disposal sites study to evaluate marine ecosystems and health effects of human fish consumption; 2) Catalina Island Recycling Program Study